Flush valve



April 1o, 192s.

W. C. WRIGHT FLUSH VALVE Filed March 18. 1927 Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

WARREN C. WRIGHT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUSH VALVE.

Application filed March 18, 1927.

This invention relates to tankless flush valves for ivate 1closets and other toilet tixtures using the flush system.

The type of valve device to which my invention relates has a piston valve which is openedl and closed by the pressure of the liquids being controlled by the valve. The main object of my invention is to provide means for effecting the automatic closing of the piston valve after a predetermined amount of liquids has passed the same, regardless of the ext-ent to which the operator opens the relief valve or the time it is held open.

Another object of my invention is to provide a chamber to receive and confine the liquids displaced in the opening movements of the piston valve so as to effect the automatic closing of that valve as soon as the displaced liquids are compensated for from the intake side of the valve.

.fr further object of my invention is to provide means whereby this chamber may nrain ivhen the relief valve is closed and thus immediately prepare the chamber for furl her functioning of the piston valve.

A still further object of my invention is to provide the drain for this chamber through the plunger member which opens the relief valve, the drain opening through the plunger being immediately closed When the plunger is forced into contact with the relief valve, and thus insure the production of a conned pressure in this chamber.

Another object of my invent-ion is to have the piston and relief valves and their associated parts associated With a block Which removably fitted in the main or outer-casing of the device, and thus simplify the construction and allow it to be readily and easily assembled as well as inspected for cleaning and repair.

ythe invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through a flush valve constructed in accordance With my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional vieu7 taken on line of Fig. 1; and

3 shows the manner in which the handle of the device operates the plunger of the relief valve.

The iiush valve of my invention has an outer casing or housing 1, in which is located a valve block A2. The outer' easing 1 has Serial No. 176,340.

an inside seat or shoulder 3 against which the valve block 2 is clamped (with a gasket interposed) by a locking ring 4 screwed into the upper end of the outer casing, as shown in Fig. 1. The ripper end of the outer casing is closed by a screw cap or cover 5. The casing 1 is provided in its lower portion With intake and outlet passages 6, 7, by which the valve device is connected to the Water supply pipe and the toilet fixture to be flushed, respectively. These passages are divided by a curved wall 8 and both open upwardly into the lower portion of a chamber 9 provided in the casing 1 for a piston valve 1() which fits and is slidably mounted in said chamber.

The chamber 9 is below the block 2 and the piston valve 10 is movable on and ott a` seat 11 at the upper end of the intake passage 6 for opening or closing the same 'to the outlet passage 7. The valve 10 has an upright stem 127 which has a sliding lit in a guide recess 13 formed in the block 2. The latter has a pressure equalizing passage 11 connecting the recess 13 with the chamber 9. The port-ion of the chamber 9 above the piston valve 10 has a liquid supply connection vvith the inlet passage 6 by communicating passages 15, 16, both formed in the outer casing 1, as shown in Fig. 1.

The passage-15 connects with the supply passage 6 to the rear of a depending lip 17 in the inlet passage, said lip serving to defleet liquids into the passage 15 and thus insure a supply of liquids for the chamber 9. The passage 16 opens into the chamber 9 preferably at right-angles to the passage 15, and a: timing pin 17 is screwed into they upper portion of the passage 15 and has its loivervend positioned so as to open or close the passage 16 and thus regulate the flow of liquids into the chamber 9 from the passage 15. The pin 17 extends to the top of the casing 1 and is outside of the lock ring l so that the pin may be readily reached for adjustment on the removal of the cap 5.

rlhe block 2 is -provided with upper and lower chambers 18, 19, separated by suitable partition Walls, in one of which is a port 20 whereby communication may be established between said chambers when the relief valve 21 for said port is open. This valve 21 is located in the chamber 1,9 and is normally held closed by a spring 22 located in a hollow guide Lnut 23 screwed into the block 2 and extending into the chamber 19 in alignment with the relief valve. The nut uides the relief valve 21 in its opening and c osing movements, and holds the same aligned with the port 20. The chamber 19 opens through the under side of the block 2 directly into the chamber 18 and thus in effect provides the latter with an upward continuation extending alongside of the chamber 18 at the port 20. v

'To open the relief ralve 21, I provide a plunger Qiezrtending horizontally into the chamber 1S from the side of the block opposite the relief valve 21 and in alignment therewith. Said plunger 24 extends `into the chamber 18 through a .nut 25 screwed into the block against a Washer so as to prevent leakage out of the chamber 18 about the plunger. The plunger' 24 extends outward through the exterior wall of the main 'casing l. and has its headed outer end in a rchamber provided on the outside of said casing by a boss 26 and a holloiv nut 2T screwed on the saine. A Washer 28 is about the plunger' at the bottoni of this chamber so as to prevent leakage through the boss under bach pressure from the outlet through the drain passage 29 which extends up to the plunger for operation with a drain opening 30 therein. i

` An expansion coiled spring 31 is arranged about the plunger between its head and the washer 28 so as to normally maintain the inner end of the plunger out of contact with a projection 32 on the relief valve 21, whichl projection extends into the chamber 18 through the port 20. To move the plunger 21 into Contact. With the projection 32 to open the relief valve 215 l provide a handle 323 having a head Se; in the nut 27 and engagagainst the head of the plunger 2st. The opening in the nut 27 through which the handle 38 extends is made large enough and suilicient clearance provided between the head and the nut so thatA the handle may be given an oscillating movement in. any direction and cause the head to tilt or cant in the nut to push the plunger 211 inward to open the relief valve 21,'as indicated .in Fig. 3.

lThe portion of the plunger 24 extending through the nut and its packing is hollow and Ihas the outlet opening 30 heretofore mentioned topermit the chamber 18 to drain through the plunger' into the outlet 7 through the passage 29. The end of the projection 32 opposite the inner end of the plunger 24 is rounded so as to enter the plunger' when 'the two are engaged and thus close the' drain for the chamber 18.

The piston valve 10 when closed will be held against the seat- 11, by the liquid pressure on the upper side of the piston valve.

'When the relief valve 21 vis opened'by manipulation of the handle 3B, the chambers 9 and 19 are then placed in communication to the pi With the chamber 18 through the port 20 and the pressure on the upper side of the lpiston valve 10 is relieved so that the, valve may be lifted into open 1position olf its seat 11 by the Water pressure on its underside. The liquids displaced on the upward movement of the valve 10 are forced rapidly into the clnniiber'lS` which. includingl the upper portion ofthe block 2, has a capacity substantially the same as the body of liquids so displaced, and thus permits the piston valvelO to be lifted without undue resistance.

As these displaced liquids risc in the chamber 18, Which' has previously been emptied through the drain 29. a disk 35, which is slidahly retained Ain the chamber, is lifted and raised toward a cover 8G which extends-over the upper end of the chaniiber 18 at the top of the block and held thereon hv the loch ring l with av gasket in between. The cover 36 has holes 37 through which air may scape as the dislr rises. The disk 35 has an inclined projection 38 on its upper side to engage a beveled seat 39 at the holes 57 so as to close the saine when the disl; is fully raised and thus prevent the escape of Vany appreciable amount of liquids from the chamber. This builds up a confined pres sure in the chamber' 18, which pressure is aided by the pressurey of the liquids supplied to the chamber 9 through the oy-pass *l5- 16 to effect the innncdiate closing of the piston valve 9 as soon as the displaced liquids are replaced through said by-pass.

`Efl-.lith a confined pressure on the under side of the piston valve 10 when it is closed, due ire of the liquids in tlie'inlet 6, the upward movement of 'the valve 9 is erceedinglj,7 rapid and the displaced liquids are'forced into the chamber 18 almost the instant that the relief valve 21 is opened, so that thehuilding up of pressure on the upper 'side of the piston valve 10 froin the 15-16 `will eil'ect the automatic closing of; the piston valve 1() regardless of whether the operator holds the relief valve 21 open or allovvs it to close. This avoids any opportunity ofthe operator interfering with the automatic closing of the piston valve. TWhen the operator releases the iandle 33, the relief valve 21 closes under the action of its'spriug, and the springr 31. of the plunger 24tmoves the latter outivard to open the chan'iber 18 to drain through the plunger. y

'T he disk has a tubular projection 4C() which extends upward therefrom through a guide boss 4:1 on the upper side of the cover S6 to hold the disk central and guide it in its up and vdown movements. Arranged beneath the dish 35 is a relatively small valve plate Ll2 having an inclined projection on its upper side to entera recessl provided therefor in the under side of the dish 35, said rercss having a beveled seat so that the projec` tion when against the same will close the opening through the tubular projection 40 and thus prevent the escape ot liquids therethrough as the disk is raised thereby. The valve plateV 42 has a stem 43 which extends up through the projection 40 so as to hold the plate central and guide it in its opening and closing movements. The stem is prefe ably square so as to provide vent passages through the projection 40 for air to enter the chamber 1S when the latter is opened to the drain. \Vhen the plunger 2l leaves the rcliet' valve on the closing ot the same, the chamber 1S is opened to the drain. The outflow ot liquids from the chamber 1S creates a slight suction therein and thus causes the plate 42 to move downward and open the chamber to the air and thus enable the same to readily and easily drain. This suction ivill also cause the disk 35 to move down as the chamber drains, the plate remaining unseated until Contact is made with the portion ot' the block below the same.. As the disk settles on the block, the plate will be closed against the seat, and be ready for another filling of the chamber 18 With displaced liquids.

The part 44 of the piston valve 10 where it enters the inlet 6 is of a size to substantially till the inlet when the falve is closed so that the under side of the valve will receive they full pressure of the liquids in the inlet 6. Moreover, the part il projects far enough into the inlet G so that the piston valve is raised to substantially the full limit of its upward movement before the projection leaves the inlet to open the same to the outlet T. Thus the full upward movement of the piston valve 9 is sufficiently great to displace a fairly large volume ot liquids from above the valve and thus permit the supply port 16 to be made large enough to avoid any chance ot such port becoming clogged by sediment or 'foreign matter carried by the liquids to effect the closing of the piston valve in the time required. The projection 11 may be recessed on its under side, as shoivn in Fig. 1, so as to retain some of the pressure of the liquids on the valve even after the projection passes the seat 11 and thus insure a full opening of the valve.

The amount ot Water discharged from inlet 6 to outlet T on each opening of the piston valve 10 is determined by the amount of Water which is displaced by the valve in its upward movement into the chamber 18. As this chamber can receive only a predetermined amount of liquids and such liquids are confined in the chamber 18 bv the disk` the refilling from the by-pass 15-16 will be only equal to that which has` been displaced and thus the piston valve will immediately close when a predetermined discharge has been made from 6 t0 '7; Thus the discharge of liquids from 6 to. 7 on each opening of: the piston valve 10 is the same regardless of the extent of opening of the relief valve 21 or the time that it is held open. Thus my improved valve will discharge a predetermined amount or' Water each time thel handle 33 is touched either lightly or heavily or Whether heldin open position for any length of time.

My improved valve is prin'iarily designed 'tor use as a flush valve for tankless Waterclosets and other toilet fixtures which operate on the tlush system. This valve may be used in other connections, as for instance as a faucet where it is desired to discharge a predetern'iined amount ot' liquids on each operation of the handle 33. By making the disk 35 relatively thin, the depth of the chamber 18 may be materially reduced and thus cut down the thickness required and the amount ol metal in the block 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the sides of the block 2 are cut away and these open into the chamber 19 so as to enlarge the capacity of the same. Vith the chambers 18, 19 and the relief valve 21 closed to the passages (i, 7 by the valve 10 extending clear across the chamber 9, the rel'ietvalve 21 and its chambers 18, 19 are out ot' the path of they main flow of liquids through the valve device (through passages (3, 7) when the valve 10 is open.

The details of structure and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified Without departing lroui the spirit and scope ot my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve device having a pressure chamber with a by-pass connection with the intake side ot the valve, a piston valvev operable in said chamber for controlling the discharge of liquids by the valve, a second chamber to receive and confine the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber by the, piston valve in its opening movements, a relief valve for opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, and a plunger extending into the second chamber and adapted to be moved into contact With the reliet' valve for opening the same, said plunger being hollow to-provide a drain passage therethrough for the second chamber when` the relief valve is closed, `said drain passage bein closed by the relief valve when the plunger is in contact therewith.

2. A valve device having` a pressure chamber with a by-pass connection with the inlet side ot' the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber for controlling the discharge ot liquids through the valve, a second chamber to receive and confine the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber in the opening movements of the piston valve, a spring'pressed relief valve for opening and closing lthe second chamber to the pressure chamber, a plunger extending into the second chamber and adapted to be moved into contact therewith for opening the relief valve, and `spring means actingV when the plunger is released to move the same out ot' contact with the relief valve so that the latter may close and the second chamber drain.

A valve device having a pressure chamber with a by-pass connection with the inlet side of the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber Jr'or controlling' the flow et liquids through the valve, a second chamber out of the path ot' the main flow of liquids through the valve device to receive and confine the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber by the piston valve in its opening movements, a relief valve for opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, said second'chamber having a vent opening, and means for closing said vent opening when the second chamber has received all displaced liquids.

Ll. A valve device having a pressure chamber with ay by-pass connection with the intake side of the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber for controlling the iiow of liquids through the valve, a second chamber to receive and confine the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber by the piston falve in its opening movements,`a relief valve for opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber', a cover tor the upper end of the second chamber and having a vent therein, and a member slidably mounted in the second chamber and adapted to be raised by the filling of the same with displaced liquids to close the vent.

5. A valve device having a pressure chamber with a bypass connection with the intake side of the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber for controlling the low of liquids through the valve, a second chamber to receive ber out of the path of the main flow of liqids through the valve device to receive and confine the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber in the opening movements of the valve, and a relief valve for opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, said second chamber having a capacity substantially equal to the volume of liquids displaced by the piston valve.'

6. A valve device having a pressure chamber with a by-p'ass connection with the intake side et the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber for controlling the iiow of liquids through the valve, a second cliamand confine the liquids displaced trom the pressure chamber by the piston valve in its opening movements, a reliet' valve yfor opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, a cover over the upper end of the second chamber and havingr an air vent therein, a disk with avent opening therethrough slidably mounted in the second chamber and raised by the lling of the same with displaced liquids to close the vent in the cover, and a valve plate closing the vent in the disk, said plate being opened on closing'the relief valve to permit ree draining of the second chamber.

7. ln a valve device of the character described, a block having a chamber to receive displaced liquids, a cover over the upper end et said chamber and having an upright guide boss and a vent therein, a relatively thin disl; slidably retained in said chamber and having an upstandingA tubular projection littiug in said boss, and arelatively small plate to open and close the .lower end olf the projection and having a guide stem fitting therein.

8. A Vliush valve havingan outer casing with a pressure chamber within the same, liquid inlet and outlet passages in the casing below the prcssurechamber and having communication therethrough when the valve is open, a piston valve in the ressure chamber above said passages'and movable onV and oli the upper edge or the inlet passage for opening and closing'the same, a second chamber in the casing ab ve and in alignment with the piston valveto receive and coniine the liquids displaced by said valve in its opening movements, a by-pass connection between the inletpassage and the pressure chamber above the piston valve, a self closing relier valve above and operating substantially at right-angles to the piston valve lier opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, means accessible from the outside of the casing for opening the relie'l valve, and means permitting the second chamber to drain on the closing of the relief valve.v i

y9. A flush valve havingr an' outer casing with a pressure chamber within the same, liquid inlet and outlet passages in the casing below the pressure chamber and having communication therethrough when the valve is open, a piston valve in the pressure chamber above said passages for controlling the flow ot liquids therethrough, a secondl chamber in the casing above and in alignment with the piston valve to receive and conline the liquids displaced by said valve in its opening movements, said pressure chamber having a portion extending upward along the side of the second chamber and being- 'divided there- 'from by a partition wall having an opening to provide Vcommunication between said chambers, a self closing relief valve for said opening, means accessible -from the outside of the casing 'for opening the relief valve, means permitting the second chamber to drain ,on closing the relief valve, and a by-pass connection between the inlet passage and the pressure chamber above the piston valve.

lO. A, valve device having liquid inlet and outlet passages, a piston valve for controlling the flow of liquids throughsaid passages, a chamber out of the path of the main flow of liquids through said passages to receive and confine the liquids displaced by the piston valve in its opening movements, a vent for the escape of air from said chamber as the displaced liquids enter the same, means for automatically closing' said vent` when the chamber has received all displaced liquids, and a by-pass connection between the inlet passage and the larger side ofthe piston valve whereby the latter will be automatically closed upon the displaced liquids being compensated for from the inlet passage.

ll. A valve. device having a pressure chamber with a by-pass connection with the intake side of the valve, a piston valve operable in said chamber to control the discharge of liquids by the valve device, a second chamber out of the path of the main flow oi liquids through the valve device to receive and confine the liquids displaced by the piston valve in its opening movements, a vent permitting air to escape from the second. chamber as the displaced ,liquids enter the same, means for automatically closing said vent when the second chamber has received all displaced liquids, and means for opening and closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber and permitting the vent means to open and the second chamber to drain when closed to the pressure chamber.

l2. A flush valve having an outer casing with a pressure chamber within the same, liquid inlet and outlet passages in the casing below the pressure. chamber and having communication therethrough when the valve is open, a piston valve in the pressure chamber above said passages and movable on and olf the upper edge of the inlet passage for ope-ning and closing the same, a second chamber in the casing above and in alignment with the piston valve to receive and confine the 13. A valve device having a pressure chamv bei' with liquid intake and discharge passages communicable therethrough, a piston valve operable in said chamber for controlling the iiow of liquids through said passages, a second chamber out of the path of the main flow of the liquids to receive and conline the liquids displaced from the pressure chamber by the piston valve in its opening movements, said second chamber having a vent opening, means for automatically closing said vent opening when the second cham-` ber has received all displaced liquids, a relief valve normally closing the second chamber to the pressure chamber, a by-pass connection between the intake passage and said pressure chamber so that a liquid pressure may be built up in the pressure chamber through said bypass to effect the automatic closing of the piston valve after the discharge of a predetermined volume of liquids even though the relief valve may be held open, and means for opening the relief valve.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature this 15th day of March, 1927.

`WARREN C. WRIGHT. 

